silk dubbing

[flytyingfred]

I had asked this question on the fly tying site but it got lost in the other subjects in my post. I am wondering if anyone has ever used silk dubbing. I have a place to get it and it say its good for dry flies. I anyone has any input on it I would appreciate it.

 

[fly_flinger]

I have used it and like it a lot for dry flies. It helps make really slim bodies.

 

[JeffK]

Silk dubbing is an old favorite that has laregly been replaced in popularity by synthetics. The all-natural crowd likes it.

One comment is to use slightly lighter shades because the dubing will get darker with floatant or wet.

 

[DGC]

It is transluscent and so takes on the color of the thread, so match that carefully for the effect you want.

It wraps tighter, smoother and slimmer than all synthetics including Superfine. Also stronger, considerably so.

I use it for wet terrestrials, drowned adult streambred insects, soft hackles of the sparse spider style and any small dry under a #20, with a few exceptions.

I don't know for sure, but the price seems steep and may be due to discontinued manufacturing. I got mine about 15 years ago. A little goes a long way.

Full Disclosure: a relative works for the firm Kreinik.

 

[gfen]

I love the translucent effect of rayon floss on wets, I didn't even think about replicating it on dry flies!

A section in Bergman's Trout talks about a specially prepared fly tying silk (thread? dubbing? meh) and using an oil to purposely turn it translucent for that very effect.

Silk dubbing. I'm sold.

FWIW, the way I was tought to use floss on wets, because of this effect, is to always tie it over a white thread base to help enhance the glow.

 

[sandfly]

Good for wets, bad for drys. It absorbs water and adds weight then. In the old days thats all we had. sure you can floatant but thats still more weight. The lighter the dry the better it will float.

 

[DGC]

gfen,

I perhaps mischaracterize the appearance of silk dubbing by using the word "transluscence." There is no glow to speak of with silk dubbing, and perhaps "transparent" would have been better. I was trying to convey that the thread color or just the hook itself will overpower the dubbing if you don't use thread of a suitable shade.

It could well be that for soft hackle spiders, your best bet is just to get Pearsall's silk thread. It would certainly be the classic thing to do.

 

[gfen]

I've never used actual Pearsalls, but I've noticed that the yellow 4 strand rayon stuff really gets a glow when wet.

Its not as pronounced on the other colours of 4 strand I've used, and the single ply stuff I've bought doesn't exhibit it either, but they're all darker colours.

I hate using the 4 strand stuff, though.